Lead Poisoning: A 'Must-Know' Guide
More than 300,000 U.S. children have dangerously high levels of lead in their blood, according to the CDC. Lead is a metal that, when ingested or inhaled, can seep into developing brain tissue, causing learning disabilities and other chronic health problems, such as stunted growth, hyperactivity, and impaired hearing.
Lead poisoning affects children from every socioeconomic background, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says. Lead dust from an older home that's being remodeled or one that's simply in disrepair is often the culprit, but children can also be exposed to lead through contaminated drinking water from lead pipes or lead solder.
If lead is a problem in your home, you may not realize it until it's too late because lead poisoning typically has no symptoms.
Following are simple things you can do to help protect your family from the dangers of lead.
Screen for lead
If you live in a high-risk area, your children should be tested every year from ages 1 to 4, even if they seem healthy, the EPA says. Talk with your child's doctor if you have any concerns about lead exposure or screening. If the test indicates your child's lead level is high, the doctor will discuss with you the appropriate action to take. That might mean using special cleaning methods in your home to reduce lead dust or making sure your child washes his or her hands before eating.
Keep your home clean
Clean your home often to minimize lead-paint dust. This is particularly important if your home was built before 1978, when lead was officially removed from residential house paint.
Lead-dust cleaner
Use an all-purpose cleaner or one specially formulated for lead-dust removal. Give special attention to floors, window frames, windowsills, and surfaces where children have easy access. Use paper towels instead of rags to avoid re-contaminating the environment.
Prevent chewing
Keep children from chewing on anything covered with paint that may contain lead, such as windowsills. Tiny pieces of peeling or chipped lead paint taste sweet, which is why children eat them.
Serve up good nutrition
Make sure your child's diet contains plenty of dairy, meat, beans and citrus foods. The calcium, iron, and vitamin C in these foods help your child absorb less lead, the EPA says.
Cold water is best
Use only cold tap water for drinking or cooking and let it run for 15 to 30 seconds before using it. This habit helps flush out any potential lead in the water from lead pipes or lead solder.
Don't bring lead dust home
If you work around lead—say you refurbish boats on the weekends (lead is still allowed in marine paints) or do stained glass as a hobby—change your clothes on the job site, put them in a plastic bag and wash them separately from the rest of the family's clothes. Or, even better, have them washed elsewhere.
Hire the pros
To find out whether your home contains lead paint, hire a qualified lead professional to test your house paint. If the test is positive, don't remove the lead yourself, the EPA says.